USA soccer fans proud despite World Cup loss

Fans - including Dave Redfield (front, from left) of Carneys Point, New Jersey, Bill Clouser of Elkton, Maryland, and Erika Murphy of Wilmington react at C.R. Hooligan's in Wilmington after Belgium got on the board in extra time during Team USA’s loss to Belgium in the World Cup on Tuesday evening.(Photo: WILLIAM BRETZGER/THE NEWS JOURNAL)Buy Photo

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Optimism gave way to pessimism. Then hope crept in, only to be dashed by despair.

But in the end, anywhere a television was tuned to the 2014 World Cup in Delaware, there was pride for America's men's national team who lost Tuesday to favorite Belgium 2-1. The loss eliminates the USA from the tournament.

"It's always hard in this game when they gave you hope," said Marcia Wright-Sokia, who watched the game at Wilmington's Theatre N.

Several World Cup watchers gave up on the match when Belgium took a 2-0 lead in extra time. Wright-Sokia said she was a little disappointed, but that she still believed in miracles minutes before Team USA's Julian Green scored giving the Americans life in the extra time.

"This team has shown a lot of heart," she said. "They got a lot farther than a lot of people thought they were going to this year. So I'm proud of them, even though I'm sad."

The team moved past the so called Group of Death 1-1-1 and advanced to the quarterfinals. And as the team advanced more paid attention.

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Joe Lazorick reacts to an uncalled foul by Belgium while watching the first half of the game. The US team was eliminated after the extra-time loss.(Photo: WILLIAM BRETZGER/THE NEWS JOURNAL)

About 50 people gathered at Theatre N after supervisors received requests to hold a watch party.

"People have emailed us in and said can you please turn on the screen for the soccer game," said Ivy Brock, theater manager. "I said 'Yeah.' "

This was the first time the 221-seat venue was used to watch the 2014 World Cup. Small American flags were passed out to people showing up to the game.

"It was a good game. It's unfortunate we lost," said Bob Bickey, who watched the game at Theatre N.

Bickey, who was decked out in red, white and blue, said the game is catching on in this country.

"It already has," he said. "The last few days have been insane. The last few weeks have been insane. This is the best World Cup I've seen in the 20-something years that I've been paying attention."

"You can't get away from it," he said, as his ESPN phone app chimed with the score.

Pubs in Trolley Square showing the game were jammed Tuesday. And even people working were getting caught up in the excitement, including Alyse Alvini. The 25-year-old works for N.K.S. Distributors Inc. and was promoting Budweiser at C R Hooligans. But she said she's been getting the soccer bug.

"I definitely have World Cup fever," she said. "I've been watching it since the beginning."

Alvini confessed she catches soccer bug every four years, "every time the World Cup is on."

The big attraction is that everyone wants to support their country, said Alvini, who wore red, white and blue from her glasses to her toes.

"I'm here with a bunch of colleagues ... to enjoy this game," said Tony Furr, who was at Catherine Rooney's Irish Pub Tuesday afternoon. Furr, who had a personalized Team USA jersey, grew up playing the sport. "It only happens every four years."

Joe Lazorick was one of the luckier patrons at Rooney's as he was sitting watching the game. Many stood.

"Being home would be great, but yes it's great to share a common interest with everybody and cheer the team on," Lazorick said.

The Pike Creek resident said the games will have a lasting effect on America, even on the fair-weather fans.

"We'll take whoever," he said. "The tired, the sick, the poor, the band-wagoners. It doesn't matter. Anybody that cares is good to me."